Publications [#151497] of Marc F Bellemare

Journal Articles

  1. M.F. Bellemare. "Sharecropping, Insecure Land Rights, and Land Titling Policies: A Case Study of Lac Alaotra, Madagascar." Development Policy Review 29.1 (2009): 87-106. [papers.cfm]
    (last updated on 2009/03/31)

    Abstract:
    Sharecropping between poor landlords and rich tenants has been observed throughout the world but has hitherto been the subject of very little academic scrutiny. Given that such ‘reverse share tenancy’ contracts are mostly at odds with the canonical risk sharing explanation for sharecropping, this paper presents a case study of reverse share tenancy in Lac Alaotra, Madagascar, where reverse share tenancy accounts for one third of land rentals. Based on field observations, it then discusses a rationale for the existence of reverse share tenancy that relies on weak property rights as well as on the legal doctrine of adverse possession. This rationale is then tested using data from Lac Alaotra, and the empirical findings are discussed in relation to recent land titling efforts by the World Bank and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

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